Suk-bin Choe

The future Royal Noble Consort Suk was born on the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month in the eleventh year of the reign of Hyeonjong of Joseon, which translates to December 17, 1670 in the Gregorian calendar. Her personal name is unknown. She was the younger daughter of Choi Hyo-won (Korean: 최효원; Hanja: 崔孝元; 1638–1672) and Lady Hong of the Namyang clan (Korean: 남양홍씨; Hanja: 南陽洪氏; 1639–1673).[1] She had one older brother, Choi Dong-hu (Korean: 최후; Hanja: 崔垕), who married Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan and one older sister who married Seo Jeon (Korean: 서전; Hanja: 徐專).

She entered the palace at the age of 7. Choi Suk-bin belonged to the "cheonmin" class which was the lowest class during the Joseon Dynasty. How she and the King had their first encounter is unknown. The most accepted version is that she was a "musuri" (a water maid in the palace) during the time when Queen Inhyeon was exiled and Jang Hui-bin had acquired the status of Queen. One night, Lady Choi was praying for Queen Inhyeon's well-being when King Sukjong, who was returning to the palace from a trip, overheard her and was moved by her words. The book 수문록 authored by Yi Mun-jeong (1656–1726)[2] describes the events that led to the execution of Jang Hui-bin. The author who lived during Sukjong's time, recorded the encounter as follows:

"One night, the King [Sukjong] couldn't sleep, and suffering from insomnia decided to go out. When returning to the palace and passing by the servants' chambers, he suddenly heard sobbing coming from a small room. Out of curiosity, he took a peep into the room, then to his surprise in this neat and tidy room, he saw there was a setup of an offering for a banquet. He then saw a young palace musuri dressed in her official uniform, weeping bitterly in front of the table set for a memorial ritual. The memorial tablet was set for the former Queen Inhyeon. The King was surprised, since Queen Inhyeon had been deposed. The musuri had placed the memorial tablet because the deposed Queen Inhyeon had sacrificed herself for the King's sake. But fearing Queen Jang Hui-bin's influence, no one dared to commemorate the deposed Queen Inhyeon, as no one wanted to be accused and executed. The King was surprised that even under these perilous circumstances someone dared to risk death to honor and pray for Queen Inhyeon's well being, and he spoke to her. The musuri (later to become Choi Suk-bin) heard his voice, and turning around, was stunned to see the King. Recognizing him, she knelt before him and he asked her for an explanation. The musuri answered with a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I used to serve under Queen Inhyeon when she was Queen. Today is her birthday, I cannot forget the kindness that Queen Inhyeon rendered to me when I served under her, thus privately I set a memorial for her. Please punish me with death." Hearing such an extreme plea, the King was taken aback and was astonished. Others in her situation would have played safe and not put themselves at risk, but this musuri risked death to honor her former Queen. Commendable and virtuous indeed was she and the King, finding himself witnessing this, was moved. He then brought the young musuri to his bed chambers. His feelings turned from sympathy into fondness and then into love, and he spent many nights with her. Over time, this musuri came to be known as Choi Suk-bin".

In 1693, she became Sukjong's concubine with the 4th junior rank of Suk-won, after giving birth to a prince who died young. One year later, she was elevated to the 2nd junior rank of Suk-ui, after giving birth to another son, Prince Yeoning. In 1695, she was again elevated to the 1st junior rank of Gwi-in. In 1698, she gave birth to a stillborn prince. In 1699, she was again promoted to the 1st senior rank of Bin, with the adjective Suk, meaning (淑) "pure" and became a Royal Noble Consort.

Lady Choi openly supported Queen Inhyeon and was against Jang Hui-bin, who history had described as an evil and cruel woman. By 1693, the King was growing disillusioned with Jang Hui-bin and the Soron faction. In 1694, King Sukjong brought back Queen Inhyeon and demoted Lady Jang (Queen Bu-ok) back to Royal Noble Consort Hui. In 1701, Queen Inhyeon died of an unknown cause. Some historiographers believe she was poisoned, but this is unconfirmed. According to one version, Sukjong found Jang Hui-bin in her room with a shaman, making merry over having caused the Queen's death through black magic.[3][4] Another interpretation based on a vague passage of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty states that it was Choi Suk-bin who told the King that sorcery had been used to try to bring harm to the Queen. Under the title, Queen's Will, it is written:

Oegan (外间) Quote--"Choi Suk-bin with her usual grace gives tribute to the Queen (Inhyeon) (追慕), and weeping (痛哭) for the one that could not win the heart of the King, she informed the King of the secret."

However, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty recorded in 1701, state that Min Chin-won and Min Chin-hu informed King Sukjong of Jang Hui-bin's sorcery, claiming that in doing so they were in compliance with Queen Inhyeon's last request to them before dying. According to Min Chin-won, the rumor in the palace was that Jang Hui-bin had been using a shaman to curse the Queen and she came to know about these rumors.

Regardless of how the King came to know about this, he decided to look into the matter and discovered the truth behind the rumors that Jang Hui-bin had built a shamanist altar within her quarters, where effigies with the name of the Queen were found. Later, her ladies-in-waiting declared that she had ordered them to shoot arrows at a portrait of Queen Inhyeon three times at day, and had buried dead animals in her palace's garden.[5] Despite the many pleas of the Soron faction to pardon her, King Sukjong felt her conduct was so wicked, and in 1701 ordered that Lady Jang and all the others involved should die by poison. After sentencing her, King Sukjong passed a law forbidding a concubine with the rank of Bin to become Queen.[6]

A misunderstanding exists that Choi Suk-bin was the next in line to become Queen, but this had no basis. In addition, another concubine, Royal Noble Consort Myeong of the Miryang Park clan (명빈 박씨), a daughter from the Yangban class, gave birth to a prince in 1699 and was probably more suited for the title of Queen after Lady Kim Yeong-bin. Choi Suk-bin's lower class status was an impediment to her becoming Queen as the Confucian society was ruled by a class system. We can clearly see this in the life of King Yeongjo (son of Choi Suk-bin) who was threatened in the beginning of his rule partially because of his mother's class. Later, when his rulership was firmly established, he considered it a personal insult if his mother's background as a slave was mentioned.[7]

Her only surviving son was Prince Yeoning (Yi Geum, later King Yeongjo), who was known to be a child prodigy and became one of the greatest kings in Joseon.[8] King Sukjong was very proud and his treatment of him tended towards the lavish. But because the Prince had been the son of a low-born concubine, the officials who were born in noble houses and had noble wives maintained a condescending view of him and his mother, and were quick to lecture Sukjong on frugality and modesty. However, the King ignored them.[9] In 1704, the King celebrated the wedding of Prince Yeoning with a grand and lavish party, but again, the ministries complained about the excessive favoritism the King showed to the Prince.

Later the same year, Sukjong gave his winter house, Ihyeon Palace (where he had spent the days of his youth), as a gift to Choi Suk-bin.

Although Yeongjo in his adulthood was very sensible about the origins of his mother, one cannot deny the deep love he had for his birth mother, Lady Choi. His reverence for his mother had no limit. He wrote her many poems and said in one of them:

"My father begot me, my mother fed me, led me, bred me, brought me up, reared me, kept her eye on me, tended me, at every turn aided me. Their goods deeds I would requite".[10]

Yeongjo fought the court to have Choi Suk-bin recognized as a public mother, because she was like other concubines—mothers of Kings, but regarded as a "private mother of the King". But Yeongjo wanted to change that and have her as his "public mother". However, the officials were opposed to it as this meant the ministers would have to honor her and gave the King the right to visit her tomb often as a part of his royal ceremonies.

During the time he was fighting this, there are two interesting accounts of his feelings about this situation. In 1739, the day before the scheduled visit to Choi Suk-bin's tomb, dissatisfied with the protocols that the Board of Rites had drawn up, he censured two officials who were directly responsible for them. The Sillok explains the measure:

"The King respectfully served his private parent [Choi Suk-bin], but he suspected that the officials were unwilling to comply with his desire. Thus, on each occasion sudden clashes erupted, inevitably followed by a distressing royal declamation."

On another occasion, the King was leaving her tomb for the Palace. About to mount the palanquin, he instead summoned the Minister of Military Affairs, Kim Son-gung. Breaking into sobs, he said:

"Since 1737, this was the first time I came to pay respect to my mother. For those years, my heart has been filled with sadness. When children fall down, they automatically call out for their mother. This is human nature. At the time of divination, if there is no person offering earth, how can there be a divination? I have sent down orders [to make his birth mother a public or legal mother], but the bureaus in charge have ignored them. True, the ruler is not allowed to have private concerns, but it is wrong to lose trust [in his officials]. The elite scholars of today are just too cold-hearted. Those elite scholar must also have parents. They could not have fallen from Heaven or sprung from earth."[11]

In the end, he got what he wanted and Lady Choi was recognized as his public mother.

Between 1699 and 1702, Royal Noble Consort Suk was the principal benefactor of the Gakhwangjeon Hall in Hwaeomsa temple.

In 1703, Queen Inwon adopted Prince Yeoning, who was known to be her favorite and whom she regarded as her own son.[12]

In 1704, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty stated that for Yeoning's marriage, the King ordered a very expensive wedding. The nobles complained about the big cost, since he was not even the Crown Prince, but the son of a concubine.[13]

In 1704, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty state that Sukjong bestowed to Choi Suk-bin the Ihyeon Palace, which she later conferred to his son to consummate his marriage in 1711.[14] It is said it was a large and spacious building located in Seoul.

In 1711, when Queen Inwon came down with smallpox, Lady Choi ordered the gungnyeo to go out of the palace and look for remedies among the commoners to save the Queen, who in the end survived.

In 1716, Choi Suk-bin was taken out of the palace while ill. Later that same year, Sukjong received a message from Yeoning informing him that his mother's health had worsened and asking for more medical help.[15]

In 1717, Sukjong retired from politics and allowed his son, the Crown Prince, to take over most of the affairs of the government.[16]

In 1718, the Royal Noble Consort Suk died at the age of 49, in Ihyeon Palace.[17][18] That same year, Sukjong declared the Crown Prince Gyeongjong as regent, who ruled in his stead.

In her memorial tablet (which is in Soryeongwon, her royal tomb),[19] under the description of her character it is written:

"Her disposition and her status was absolutely indivisible. She did not scruple on people. She was respectful and always waited on Queen Inhyeon and later on Queen Inwon. Her wisdom and intelligence shined on her interaction with others. She kept to her duty and protocol. She never entered in palace disputes. She spent her days in peace and harmony."

She is buried in Soryeongwon (昭寧園) in Paju, designated as historical site no. 358 (address: 267 Yeongjang-ri, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province).

Sukjong died in 1720, supposedly after telling Yi Yi-myoung to name Prince Yeoning as Gyeongjong's heir.

When her son became King, Yeongjo set up a Jesil to grieve over her death near her grave as a display of his deep filial piety. In addition to building tablet houses on the four spots around her grave, he also erected gravestones, the contents of which were written by him in her memory. Her memorial tablet was enshrined in the Sukbinmyo, later called Yuksangmyo and Chilgung (historical site no. 149), the place which houses the ancestral tablets of seven royal concubines, all of whom were birth mothers of Kings that never achieved the status of a Queen.

Choi Suk-bin was given the posthumous title "Lady Hwagyeong, Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Choi clan" (Korean: 화경숙빈최씨; Hanja: 和瓊淑嬪崔氏). She was raised to the posthumous titles of Hwagyong ("harmonious reverence") in 1753, and was again elevated to Hwideok ("magnificent virtue") and Ansun ("tranquil purity").

• Great-Great-Grandfather
  • Choi Eok-ji (Korean: 최억지; Hanja: 崔億之)
• Great-Grandfather
  • Choi Mal-jeong (Korean: 최말정; Hanja: 崔末貞)
• Paternal Grandfather
  • Choi Tae-il (Korean: 최태일; Hanja: 崔泰逸)
• Paternal Grandmother
  • Lady Jang of the Pyeonggang Jang clan (Korean: 평강장씨; Hanja: 平康張氏)
• Maternal Grandfather
  • Hong Gye-nam (Korean: 홍계남; Hanja: 洪繼南)
• Maternal Grandmother
  • Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan (Hangul: 증 정경부인 강릉 김씨, Hanja: 贈 貞敬夫人 江陵 金氏)
• Father
  • Choi Hyo-won (Korean: 최효원; Hanja: 崔孝元) (23 February 1638 - 15 August 1672)
• Mother
  • Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (Hangul: 증 정경부인 남양 홍씨, Hanja: 贈 貞敬夫人 南陽 洪氏) (17 October 1639 - 18 December 1673)
• Sister
  • Older sister: Lady Choi of the Haeju Choi clan (최씨, 崔氏)
    • Brother-in-law: Seo Jeon (서전)
      • Niece: Lady Seo (서씨)
        • Nephew-in-law: Lee Hyeong-nyeon (이형년)
• Brother
  • Older brother: Choi Hu (최후, 崔垕)
    • Sister-in-law: Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (증 숙부인 순흥 안씨, 贈 淑夫人 順興 安氏)
      • Nephew: Choi Su-kang (최수강, 崔壽崗) (? - 1749)
        • Niece-in-law: Lady Kim (김씨)
          • Grandnephew: Choi Jin-hae (최진해, 崔鎭海)
          • Grandnephew: Choi Jin-hyeong (최진형, 崔鎭衡)
      • Niece: Lady Choi (최씨)
        • Nephew-in-law: Jo Tae-hang (조태항)
          • Unnamed grandnephew
          • Grandniece: Lady Jo (조씨)
          • Grandniece: Lady Jo (조씨)
          • Grandniece: Lady Jo (조씨)
• Husband
  • King Sukjong (숙종대왕) (1661 - 1720)
    • Mother-in-law: Queen Myeongseong of the Cheongpung Kim clan (명성왕후 청풍 김씨) (1642 - 1684)
    • Father-in-law: King Heonjeong (현종대왕) (1641 - 1674)
• Sons
  • Prince Yeongsu (영수군) (1693 - 1693); died prematurely
  • Yi Geum, Prince Yeoning (1694 - 1776), later became King Yeongjo.
    • Daughter-in-law: Queen Jeongseong of the Daegu Seo clan (정성왕후 대구 서씨) (1692 - 1757)
    • Daughter-in-law: Queen Jeongsun of the Gyeongju Kim clan (정순왕후 경주 김씨) (1745 - 1805)
  • Unnamed prince (1698 - 1698); died prematurely